Toroidal carcass for road vehicle tires
Patent 5462104 Issued on October 31, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date: 
October 14, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
October 14, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 1328006 1366220 1420611 Method of producing a toroidal road vehicle tire carcass Method and device for producing a toroidal road vehicle tire carcass Method of producing a toroidal road vehicle tire carcass, and carcass produced thereby Patent #: 5394920 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 323212 filed on 10/14/1994US Classes:152/563, Reinforcing cord of a carcass ply arranged in a crossing relationship within the ply (e.g., woven, braided or knitted plies, etc.)152/548, Characterized by the carcass, carcass material, or physical arrangment of the carcass materials156/117Building tires directly from strands or cordsExaminersPrimary: Johnstone, Adrienne C.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesB60C 009/02B60C 009/10 Foreign Application Priority Data1993-12-14 ITDescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toroidal carcass for road vehicle tires. In particular, the present invention relates to a toroidal carcass of the type comprising two annular beads; and a toroidal reticulated structure connecting the beads which in turn is comprised of a number of elongated reinforcing elements extending in substantially radial planes in relation to the beads. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carcass of the aforementioned type, wherein the reticulated structure may be formed cheaply and easily using continuous cords, i.e., cords which need not be precut for forming the reticulated structure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a carcass of the aforementioned type, characterized by the fact that said elongated elements are defined by a pair of loops, each loop in a pair, extending in respective radial planes in relation to and from the respective beads, and forming part of respective turns of respective continuous cords wound about the beads; a third continuous cord connecting the loops in said pair of loops. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the carcass according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a partial plan view of the FIG. 1 carcass. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a toroidal carcass for a road vehicle tire. Carcass 1 comprising tow annular beads 2 and 3 with respective fillers 4; and a toroidal reticulated structure 5 connecting beads 2 and 3, which in turn is comprised of a number of elongated reinforcing elements defined by a pair of substantially U-shaped, substantially identical loops 6 and 7 extending from respective beads 2 and 3 to the center line of structure 5, offset in relation to one another and in substantially radial planes in relation to beads 2 and 3. Each loop of the pair of loops 6, 7 is formed from a respective continuous cord 8, 9 wound about respective bead 2, 3 to form a number of turns, each of which is drawn towards said center line of structure 5 to define a respective loop 6, 7 having two substantially parallel arms 10 and 11 connected by a curved portion 12. Structure 5 is completed by a third continuous cord 13 extending along said center line and alternately engaging curved portions 12 of loops 6 and 7, to connect and maintain loops 6 and 7 in the position described above. As regards to cords 8 and 9 and loops 6 and 7, the turns formed by cords 8 and 9 are wound inversely to each other about respective beads 2 and 3; and curved portions 12 of loops 6 and 7 are oppositely twisted 180° about cord 13, so as to substantially lock curved portions 12 in relation to cord 13. Also, loops 6 and 7 are so sized that cord 13 extends substantially along said center line. Structure 5, enclosing beads 2 and 3, is preferably formed on a supporting frame 14 comprising an inner portion 15 defined by beads 2 and 3, forming the skeleton of carcass 1, and a removable auxiliary annular outer portion 16 defined by a number of releasably connected curved segments (not shown). Portion 16 is located between and radially outwards in relation to beads 2 and 3, so as to define, with beads 2 and 3, two annular openings 17. When forming structure 5, frame 14 is preferably rotated about its axis, and structure 5 is formed about beads 2 and 3 and outwards of portion 16. In this connection, it should be emphasized that cords 8, 9 and 13 are continuous cord which, as opposed to being wound off a spool as shown schematically in FIG. 1, may be produced continuously and on the spot by respective dies (not shown). * * * * * |
